BYLAWS OF THE SECTION ON ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
(As amended: 1988, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2009)
1. Purpose of the Section on Environment and Technology
The purpose of the Section on Environment and Technology is to promote sociological research and professional activity in relation to environmental and technological issues. To this end, the Section will sponsor meetings and conferences, newsletters and publications, and other means of communication deemed appropriate by the Council of the Section. The term "environment" is understood to encompass both the "natural" and "built" environments, as they relate to social behavior and social organization. The term "technology" is to be understood broadly to include the origins and consequences of technology; sociological aspects of technological risk and risk assessment; the impacts of technology on social behavior, social organization, and the environment; and related phenomena.
2. Membership
Membership in the Section is open to any member of the American Sociological Association (ASA) without regard to the classification of membership in the ASA. Members who do not pay their Section dues shall be dropped from the rolls.
3. Dues
Dues shall be set by the Council to cover the operation of the Section in accord with the requirements of the American Sociological Association.
4. Elections and Voting
The elections of the Section shall be carried out in cooperation with the American Sociological Association and coordinated with its schedule. Newly elected officers shall assume office on the day following the annual business meeting of the Section at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association. Prior to assuming office, newly elected officers may attend meetings of the Council as non-voting participants.
5. Powers of the Officers
The Council is vested with the power to carry out all necessary operations of the Section, acting as the representative of the membership of the Section. The Council shall make decisions by majority rule of its attending members. Any action of the Section may be brought to a vote of the Section by the Council, or by a petition signed by 10 percent of the members of the Section, or by 25 members, whichever is fewer.
6. Officers of the Section
The officers of the Section shall be the Chair; Chair-elect; past-Chair; Secretary; Treasurer; Chair of Nominations Committee; Chair of Policy and Research Committee; Chair of Membership Committee; Chair of Publications Committee; Chair of Teaching, Training and Practice Committee; Council Member-at-Large; and Student Member of Council. All officers are elected. Commencing with the election following member approval of these revised bylaws, the positions of Chair, Chair-elect, and past-Chair are held for 1 year each. All other offices are held for 2 years, except for the Secretary and Treasurer, each of whom serves a term of 3 years to assist in the transition from Chair to Chair-elect. In the first election (only) following passage of these revised bylaws, the Treasurer shall serve a term of 2 years, to provide her/his successor with one year of overlap with the incumbent Secretary. The Chair-elect automatically becomes the Chair following her/his 1-year term as Chair-elect; the Chair automatically becomes the past-Chair following his/her 1-year term as Chair. No member may hold two Section elective offices simultaneously. If an elected officer of the Section is elected to another office of this Section, the prior office shall be declared vacant. If an elected office is vacated before the term is completed, the Chair shall appoint a person to fill the remainder of the term, although this appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Council at its next meeting. Officers must be voting members of the American Sociological Association (ASA) and members of the Section on Environment and Technology.
7. Duties of Individual Officers
7.a. Chair
The Chair is responsible for the overall leadership of the Section. The Chair will ensure that other
elected Council members and Committee Chairpersons are carrying out their duties. The Chair is
responsible for organizing and chairing the Business and Council Meetings.
7.b. Chair-Elect
The Chair-elect works with the Chair, past-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer to provide overall
leadership of the Section. The Chair-elect is responsible for organizing Section-sponsored paper
sessions at the ASA annual meeting. In addition, the Chair-elect will take on special tasks as
deemed necessary by the Chair, such as liaison with other ASA sections and related non-ASA
organizations. The Chair-Elect is responsible for chairing the Boguslaw Award Committee.
7.c. Past-Chair
The past-Chair works with the Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer to provide overall
leadership of the Section. S/he is responsible for chairing the Fred Buttel Distinguished
Contribution Award Committee. The past-Chair also takes on special tasks as deemed necessary
by the Chair.
7.d. Secretary
The Secretary handles all correspondence and (non-financial) record-keeping affairs of the
Section, works with the Chair, Chair-elect, past-Chair, and Treasurer to provide overall Section
leadership, ensure that the bylaws are up-to-date, and take notes and distribute minutes of the
annual Council and Business Meetings.
7.e. Treasurer
The Treasurer handles all financial affairs of the Section, works with the Chair, Chair-elect, past-
Chair, and Secretary to provide overall Section leadership, organizes the annual ASA reception,
and engages in initiatives to increase funding available to the Section.
7.f. Council Member-at-Large
One Council Member-at-Large will be elected. S/he may be assigned various tasks, depending on
Section needs (e.g., mini-conference organization). This Council Member-at-Large may also be
appointed to assist on a major committee project (e.g. revision of the Syllabi and Instructional
Manual).
7.g. Student Member
The Student Member of Council will write, or solicit from others, a brief article on student news
and concerns for each newsletter. The Student Member will assist the Membership Committee in
reaching out to students.
8. Standing Committees
8.a. Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee Chair will be elected, and will be joined by two members appointed
by Section Chair with help from the Council. The committee will solicit nominations for
upcoming offices by handing out nomination forms at the Council meeting, business meeting, and
all section paper sessions at the ASA annual meeting. The committee also will solicit nominations
through the official section announcement listserv directly after the ASA, and will compile a slate
of candidates that takes into account that membership input.
8.b. Policy and Research Committee
The chair of the Policy and Research Committee will be elected, and will work with at least two
members recruited by the Section Chair with help from the Council. They will keep informed of
major research opportunities for Environmental Sociologists, and write or solicit from others an
article on these opportunities for each newsletter issue. They will also keep aware of major policy
issues and write or solicit from others brief policy notes for the newsletter as well. This
committee will conduct the selection of the Allan Schnaiberg Outstanding Publication Award and the Marvin E.
Olsen Student Paper Award.
8.c. Membership Committee
The chair of the Membership Committee will be elected. Working with at least two members
appointed by the Section Chair with help from the Council, this committee will examine the
membership list and the past membership lists provided by ASA. They will contact past section
members and encourage their return to the section. This committee will also actively recruit new
members. As an example of recruitment strategy, committee members may identify potential new
members by scanning relevant journals for authors of Environmental Sociological work by non-
members, then target these individuals for recruitment.
8.d. Publications Committee
The Publications Committee Chair will be elected, and will lead a committee composed of the
Webmaster, Listserv Manager, Newsletter Editor, and one or two other members appointed by the
Section Chair with help from the Council. The committee will oversee the Section's Newsletter,
website, and discussion listserv. This committee will deal with any future discussions on journal
affiliations, as well as publishing and/or updating a brochure describing the Section and listing
past Chairs and award winners, for use in expanding the Section's presence and in soliciting new
members.
8.e. Teaching, Training and Practice Committee
The chair of the Teaching, Training, and Practice Committee will be elected and will work with a
committee of at least two others. One member must be invited from a non-academic, sociological
practice. A fourth member, a graduate student, may be invited to serve by the chair to assist in
administrative duties. The committee's mission is to promote and support teaching and practice
activities that advance the field of Environmental Sociology. The committee will periodically
update the list of graduate programs in Environmental Sociology posted on the web to help
graduate and undergraduate students identify opportunities. The committee will solicit articles on teaching and training for the section's newsletters. The committee sponsors the biennial
Environmental Sociology Teaching and Mentorship Award and is responsible for selecting the
winner through the collection and evaluation of nomination packets that are due March 1 of
award years. In alternate years, the committee sponsors the biennial Environmental Sociology
Practice and Outreach Award, and is responsible for selecting the winner through the collection
and evaluation of nomination packets that are due March 1 of award years.
9. Continuity and Accountability
Each current officer will produce a notebook detailing the position's tasks and the schedule for performing them. Copies of the notebook (or its annual additions/edits) will go to the Section Chair and Secretary-Treasurer, who will keep an updated book/binder of all Section tasks. Each outgoing officer will present the incoming officer with the appropriate notebook. In addition, each officer will provide an annual written report of the accomplishments and/or difficulties within their Council position and committee, at least one month prior to the Council Meeting, which all council members will receive. As well, each officer will provide by February 1 to the Section Chair a mid-year report on tasks, progress, action items, and ideas for further projects. The Section Chair will analyze these reports and recommendation and prepare a report to the Council by March 1, in order to pursue the Section's smooth operation.
10. Additional Section Positions and Committees
10.a. Newsletter Editor
The Chair, in consultation with the Council, will appoint a Newsletter Editor to edit and publish
the official Section newsletter. The Newsletter Editor will be a member of the Publications
Committee, but not a member of the Council.
10.b. Webmaster
The Chair, in consultation with the Council, will appoint a Webmaster to coordinate the Section's
website. The Webmaster will make sure that all listings of section officers, awards, and other
business are kept current, and will work to provide a website with a rich set of resources related
to environmental sociology. The Webmaster will be a member of the Publications Committee, but
not a member of the Council.
10.c. Listserv Manager
The Chair, in consultation with the Council, will appoint a Listserv Manager to coordinate the
Section's discussion listserv, which serves as an important communications network for Section
members and some colleagues who are not Section members. The Listserv Manager will be a
member of the Publications Committee, but not a member of the Council.
10.d. Other Committees
Other committees may be created and appointed by the Chair of the Section on an ad hoc basis,
subject to approval by the Council.
11. Section Awards
11.a. Fred Buttel Distinguished Contribution Award
This award may be made each year at the annual Section business meeting, but it is not required
that it be given each year. The purpose of this award shall be to recognize individuals for
outstanding service, innovation, or publication in environmental sociology or sociology of technology. This is intended to be an expression of appreciation, to be awarded when an
individual is deemed extraordinarily meritorious by the Section. The Selection Committee for this
award shall consist of all members of the Section Council, with the past-Chair of the Section
serving as Chair of this committee. Each fall the past-Chair shall, through the Section newsletter,
invite all members of the Section to submit nominations for the award, together with supporting
documentation. Prior to the next business meeting of the Section, the committee shall review all
nominations and decide whether or not to make an award that year, and if so, shall select the
recipient of the award. If an award is made, the name of the recipient shall be announced and a
plaque or certificate shall be presented to the recipient at the business meeting.
11.b. Allan Schnaiberg Outstanding Publication Award
This award may be conferred at the annual Section business meeting. It is given in alternate years
for either (a) a book or (b) an article of special noteworthiness in the field of
environmental sociology. In other words, in year A, only books will be considered for the award.
The next year (year B), only articles will be considered, and so forth. Books and articles must be published
within a three-year period, ending on December 31 of the
year prior to when the award is given (and can be single- or co-authored). The Policy and
Research Committee and/or its award subcommittee(s) will be responsible for making this award.
Each fall, the Policy and Research Committee, through the Section newsletter, ASA Footnotes,
and official Section announcement listserv, shall invite nominations for the award, together with
supporting documentation. Nominees (or their publishers) will be asked to supply three copies of
all nominated work to the award committee. All members of the Section are encouraged to submit
nominations; self-nominations are welcome. There may be years when the committee decides not
to make an award. Award winners will be recognized in the Section newsletter and website, in
ASA Footnotes, and will receive a certificate from the Section.
11.c. Marvin E. Olsen Student Paper Award
This award may be conferred at the annual Section business meeting, although it is not required
to be given if there is not appropriate recipient. Named to honor the memory of our distinguished
colleague, the purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding paper presented by a graduate
student at the annual American Sociological meetings. Should the award be granted, its recipient
will be announced at the annual business meeting of the section, and will be presented a
certificate acknowledging the honored paper and a monetary donation to help defray expenses
associated with attending the ASA meetings. The Policy and Research Committee will be
responsible for making this award. Nominees are limited to graduate students who are giving
presentations at the annual meetings. Each fall the Policy and Research Committee, through the
Section newsletter, shall invite all members of the Section to submit nominations for the award,
together with supporting documentation. All members, including potential recipients, are
encouraged to submit nominations.
11.d. The Environmental Sociology Teaching and Mentorship Award
This award may be conferred at the annual Section business meeting. Given in alternate years, it
honors faculty members who have provided especially dedicated service to the teaching of
environmental sociology and effective training of graduate and/or undergraduate students.
Section members are encouraged to nominate colleagues, but all members, especially those in
smaller institutions, are encouraged to self-nominate. Nomination packets may include teaching
statements, syllabi, innovative assignments and exercises, course evaluations, letters of support,
peer observations, etc. The Section's Teaching, Training and Practice Committee, or its
designated subcommittee, will administer this award. Materials should be submitted
electronically to the Award Committee Chair, in one file under 10 megabytes; for full consideration, all materials must be received by March 1 of the year in which the award may be
given. Award winners will be recognized in the Section newsletter and website, in ASA
Footnotes, and will receive a certificate from the Section.
11.e. Robert Boguslaw Award for Technology and Humanism
This award may conferred every other year (rotating with the Allan Schnaiberg Outstanding Publication Award) by
the Section to a doctoral student or young investigator whose paper or article investigates the
relationship between technology and humanism, although it is not required to be given if there is
not appropriate recipient. The purpose of the award is to recognize work that addresses
technology and human affairs, social action and social change, conflicts over values, or work that
proposes innovative solutions to emerging social issues associated with technology. In
accordance with Robert Boguslaw's wishes, the honored work should address the concerns of
ordinary people rather than reflecting organizational or institutional agendas. The award is limited
to doctoral students or young investigators who have obtained their PhDs in the past five years.
Unpublished papers or articles published within the last two years are eligible. Candidates may
either submit their own work or be nominated by someone else. Neither nominees nor nominators
need be affiliated with this or any other Section, nor do they need to be associated with any other
professional network or organization. The Chair-elect is responsible for chairing the Boguslaw
Award Committee. The Chair of the Section shall appoint two other members to serve on this
committee. If an award is made, the name of the recipient will be announced at the annual
business meeting, and the recipient will be presented with a commemorative certificate and a
small monetary gift. The Chair will notify the Boguslaw family when an award is made.
11.f. The Environmental Sociology Practice and Outreach Award
The biennial Environmental Sociology Practice and Outreach Award honors faculty members and
other professional practitioners in the field of Environmental Sociology. The award recognizes
the outstanding practice and outreach contributions of professionals not only in college and
university positions, but also positions in journalism, government, service agencies, private sector
environmental organizations, and non-profit environmental organizations. Section members are
encouraged to nominate colleagues, but all members are encouraged to self-nominate.
Nomination packets may include statements of commitment to service activities, letters of
support that delineate the nominee's outstanding service and outreach accomplishments, and
other evidence of especially dedicated service to the field. Materials should be submitted
electronically to the Award Committee Chair in one file under 10 Mb. For full consideration, all
materials must be received by March 1.
12. Revision of Bylaws
Changes in the bylaws will be made by vote of the whole Section membership in the next regular ASA election, or, if the Council deems it more urgent, in an interim special election conducted by the ASA.